Russia and Ukraine struck each other’s energy infrastructure in a series of drone attacks overnight into Wednesday, with major fuel facilities held by both nations ablaze.
What Russia euphemistically called a “drone crash” saw an oil depot near in Taman near Crimea burning with a massive effort underway to extinguish the blaze. According to the Russian government, the tank on fire had contained 20,000 cubic meters (5¼ million U.S. gallons) of oil and the location had been categorised as a four-alarm fire, the highest rating.
While the Kremlin did not directly explain why they were facing the second major oil tank fire in a week — not to mention the explosion and derailment of an oil train this week as well — Ukrainian media claimed today’s blast had been caused by an attack by their forces.
Nevertheless, a statement from the Russian government on Tuesday said in broader terms: “We are, of course, aware that the Kiev regime, which is behind a number of such attacks and terrorist acts, plans to continue this tactic… All our special services have been doing everything that is necessary to ensure security.”
